Recent advances in luminescent metal-organic frameworks for chemical sensors

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), comprised of metal ions/clusters and organic ligands, have shown promising potential for numerous applications. Recently, luminescent MOFs (LMOFs), with the superiorities of inherent crystallinity, definite structure, tunable pore, and multiple functionalizations, have bloomed out as sensors for the detection. Numerous LMOFs have been synthesized and used for sensing applications. Herein, the recent advances of LMOFs as chemical sensors for the detection of diverse targets, including metal ions, anions, small molecules, volatile organic compounds, nitro-aromatic explosives, gases, and biomolecules, have been summarized. Additionally, the detection mechanisms and the relationship between structure and properties of the materials are also illustrated. This review could be useful reference for the rational construction and sensing applications of LMOFs.